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All we want for Christmas - part 1- an automotive wishlist
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Photo: Dan Roth
If you're giving yourself a car, or showering someone else with the gift of autodom this holiday season, there's a glut of choices out there. Some are better than others when we're dealing with conditions here in New England; this might not be the best place for a Lamborghini Gallardo, even if you put Blizzaks on it. What to do, then? What do you pick? Ask friends and family and you'll end up with hundreds of suggestions, often they'll even suggest that you get whatever it is they drive. Do you really want to drive the same '95 Caprice Classic as Uncle Irv? We didn't think so. How about some suggestions from actual car people instead.
We'll start proceedings with the Jeep Patriot. The styling is familial, reminiscent of the original XJ cherokees, there's round headlamps and seven slots in the grille. While the Patriot is car based, sharing most everything mechanical with Dodge's Caliber, it's all the Jeep most people will ever need. Sure, there is the Wrangler if you want to do serious rock crawling, but that vehicle requires commitment to the way of the Jeep, and the sacrifice of everyday comfort and highway demeanor.
Patriots drive with a solid competence that is reassuring. When the vehicle launched, its interior was one of its biggest downfalls. That's been changed for 2009, with nicer materials inside. When the inevitable white stuff flies, there are two different all wheel drive systems to choose from. The standard 4x4 rig will be fine for just about everyone, but if you need more, there's always the "Trail Rated" upgrade, which brings more capabilities for true off road usage.
The available continuously variable transaxles; there are two, depending on your choice of four wheel drive system; make good use of the 2.4 liter four cylinder's 172 horsepower. The engine settles right down for a highway cruise, and if you still like to shift your own gears, there's a 5 speed manual transmission as standard equipment. The Patriot may offend hardcore CJ fans, but we think the formula of Less Jeep, More Filling is a great one.
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